Maintaining motivation and ambition can be hard when trying to develop as a person. So many hurdles get in our way, which makes it feel impossible to improve and develop within ourselves.
What if we were to tell you that there is a simple way to improve your personal and professional development? This can be done through a personal development plan.
But what exactly is personal development, and more specifically, what is a personal development plan?
Read on to learn all about personal development, personal development plans, and how you can make your own personal development plan in a few simple steps.
What Is Personal Development?
Personal development goals are a way to continuously improve within yourself, which can be achieved in a variety of ways.
Typically, some methods of self-improvement and personal goals include learning new skills, enhancing existing skills, gaining further qualifications, or even developing your spiritual or moral beliefs.
Personal development, at its core, is about fulfilment. Fulfilment is the opposite of stagnation – being fulfilled is the key to happiness, but stagnating can leave you feeling miserable and as though your life is going nowhere.
It’s far too easy to feel stuck in life – especially working a 9 – 5 job that has little room for promotion and feels as though you are reliving the same thing day after day. One of the best ways to break out of this cycle is by creating a plan of action – a personal development plan.
Taking the time to work on yourself and invest in yourself is sure to pay off and make you a better person.
Learning new skills and developing existing skills will bring you new opportunities, and help change your mindset. If you create a plan of action, you’re sure to become more proactive about your life and empowered about your future.
Personal development can help you improve your identity, awareness, potential, and even employability. Developing new skills and committing to personal growth can enhance the quality of your life, and help you realise and reach your full potential.
However, personal development isn’t a crash course – you can’t just work on yourself for a couple of weeks and think that you’re finished. It’s a lifelong process that takes constant commitment – which may involve assessing and setting long-term goals to maximise your potential.
What Is A Personal Development Plan?
Now that you have a better understanding of what personal development is, let’s explore a personal development plan (PDP).
A personal development plan is a tailored plan to help you develop as a person. It’s essentially an account of your current situation, where you plan on being in the near future, and where you plan on being in the long term.
To create your own personal development plan, you need some level of self-awareness – which can involve journaling, taking time to understand your strengths and weaknesses, and considering your goals.
You can change your PDP whenever needed – sometimes things pop up that can get in the way of plans, and if this occurs, simply revise your PDP and make any necessary amendments.
You may change your mind about certain aspects of your plan, and that’s okay – as long as you make notes of the change and don’t give up on your personal development.
Your plan is there to guide you and help you become the best version of yourself; however, you should buy into it and commit to following the plan you’ve taken the time to create for yourself.
Your PDP is something that you should be able to access regularly – hiding it in the drawer under your desk could result in you forgetting about it.
How Can You Create A Personal Development Plan?
Now you know more about personal development, it’s time to find out how you can make your own personal development plan.
Before you begin your personal development plan, you should take the time to understand yourself – your skills, weaknesses, goals, and personality traits. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating your personal development plan:
Step 1: Recognise Your Skills and Potential
When you first start working on your personal development, it can feel overwhelming – you may feel as though you don’t have skills or that you don’t know where to start.
Know that you do have skills, you may just need to take some time to realise them. Something as simple as talking to people can be considered a skill, which could be developed into public speaking.
Step 2: Start Small and Focused
When initiating your personal development journey, avoid overwhelming yourself by trying to tackle everything at once. Instead, focus on one or two areas initially, especially if you’re new to this process.
Step 3: Gradually Expand Your Focus
Once you feel comfortable managing two aspects simultaneously, consider gradually incorporating more areas into your plan, such as three or four. Remember, there’s no rush or pressure; personal development is a lifelong journey.
Step 4: Set Clear Goals
There are a few steps to creating your own PDP – but the first is setting your goals. Take the time to consider what you truly want out of life. Having long-term goals to motivate you can feel like an anchor, giving you the stability you need and something to work towards.
Step 5: Break Goals into Short-Term Objectives
To make long-term goals more manageable and achievable, break them down into smaller, short-term objectives.
For example, if your goal is to learn a new language, set milestones like learning basic phrases, understanding movies, engaging in conversations, and travelling to practice speaking with locals.
Step 6: Apply SMART Criteria to Your Goals
Ensure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). This approach enhances clarity and accountability, making it easier to track progress and adjust strategies as needed.
Step 7: Prioritise Your Goals
Recognise the significance of each goal in contributing to your personal growth and well-being. Prioritise them accordingly, focusing on those that align most closely with your aspirations and values.
Step 8: Set Deadlines and Milestones
Establish deadlines for achieving each goal to provide structure and motivation. Regularly review and adjust these deadlines as necessary to stay on track and accommodate changes in circumstances.
When you follow these steps, you can create a personalised roadmap for your personal development journey, allowing you to unlock your full potential and achieve your aspirations over time.
Remember, personal development is a continuous process, so be patient and stay committed to your growth.
You’re sure to come across obstacles on your personal development journey, but identifying them is key to overcoming them.
You will also come across opportunities – too many people make the mistake of ignoring opportunities, but you should take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way.
Knowing what could get in your way and what could help you is key to staying on track. Make a plan of action to help you make progress. A personal development coach could help you with your PDP and keep you on track.
Although your PDP should be tailored to you, you don’t have to do it alone. Make the most of your professional network, your support network, your family members, or even attend online networking events.
There are countless people that could help you develop as a person, whether it be a friend, colleague, manager, or even a business coach.
Create Your Development Plan With MOVE Business Coaching
If you have read this blog and still feel like you could benefit from some support in creating your personal development plan, we at MOVE Business can help.
We offer a wide range of services, including business coaching. Business coaches are there to help build your business and resolve any issues that you may be experiencing.
So, if you need some advice or support to create your personal development plan, we can help.
For more information on the services we offer or to speak to a member of our team, don’t hesitate to contact us at 07852 970 718. We look forward to hearing from you.
Mark is a multi-award winner in business networking and relationship building. He is passionate about coaching and mentoring business owners and professionals through 1-1 & group coaching, team performance workshops and group mastermind sessions.